Written Answers Wednesday 1 March 2006

Scottish Executive

Ambulance Service

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any specific issues which are causing delays in finalising the ratification of job evaluation outcomes for paramedic and ambulance staff.

Mr Andy Kerr: We are not aware of any specific issues which are causing delays in finalising the ratification of job evaluation outcomes for paramedic and ambulance staff.

  In common with NHSScotland generally, Agenda for Change is being implemented in the Scottish Ambulance Service in partnership with trades unions and professional organisations. The majority of staff have now been job matched, with progress being made with those staff who require local evaluation. The National Monitoring Group are currently monitoring job matching outcomes.

  The process of notifying staff of job matching outcomes commenced on 17 February 2006.

Ambulance Service

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when its Health Department commenced the ratification of the job evaluation process for paramedic and ambulance staff.

Mr Andy Kerr: It was agreed in partnership with trades unions and professional organisations at a UK level as part of the overall Agenda for Change agreement that the outcomes of the job evaluation scheme would be checked for consistency and accuracy.

  There are two strands to this process in NHSScotland, both performed in partnership. Local systems ensure that there is consistency in outcome across the individual matching panels within their area. A national monitoring group (JEMG) ensures that job evaluation outcomes are accurate and consistent across the whole of NHSScotland. Approval from JEMG is required before staff groups can be assimilated to the new Agenda for Change paybands.

  The Scottish Ambulance Service began submitting outcomes to JEMG in early January 2006. A number of these have been processed and the notifying of staff commenced on 17 February 2006.

Avian Influenza

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what preparations it has made for the possibility of an avian influenza outbreak in Scotland and where and when those preparations were made.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive published its Avian Influenza Contingency Plan in October 2005. This was subsequently updated in light of emerging evidence regarding disease transmission in February 2006. These national level plans build on the longstanding infrastructure which the State Veterinary Service has in place to respond quickly and robustly to any suspicion of disease.

Avian Influenza

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has given poultry farmers and others to protect against the threat of avian influenza and when and where this advice was given.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive published on 21 February a compendium of biosecurity guidance designed to enhance the protection of poultry-keepers from Avian Influenza. This is currently being disseminated to poultry-keepers and bird groups across Scotland. The advice has been developed in conjunction with veterinary, scientific and industry specialists and stakeholders. This work builds on the Biosecurity Code aimed at all livestock-keepers which was approved by the Scottish Parliament in 2002.

Avian Influenza

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to protect against the possibility of avian influenza spreading through the transportation and use of poultry manure.

Ross Finnie: The use, spread, transportation and disposal of poultry manure is covered by the scope of the Animal By-Products (Scotland) Regulations 2003 which transpose the EU Animal by-Products Regulation (EC) 1774/2002. In the absence of disease, these regulations allow movement between premises. If any notifiable avian disease were confirmed more rigorous requirements on the transport, and disposal of poultry manure would be put in place to reduce risk of disease spread.

Avian Influenza

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce any guidance for poultry farmers and others in respect of the transportation and use of poultry manure.

Ross Finnie: Guidance to be used once disease is present is included in contingency planning documentation. In the absence of a disease outbreak advice on best practice is included in current biosecurity literature.

Child Protection

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that training in child protection is being adequately delivered and, if not, what plans it has to address the issue.

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the scope and content of training in child protection is adequate and, if not, what plans it has to address the issue.

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has requested advice or a report from the Social Work Inspection Agency in respect of levels of participation in, and the quality of, child protection training and, if so, what the agency’s findings were.

Peter Peacock: No report of the specific nature referred to has been commissioned from the Social Work Inspection Agency. However, work begun by the Inspectorate in 2003 on a training framework for social work has been taken forward by the Scottish Executive on a multi-agency basis. We have established a working group to create a child protection training framework, including a national suite of training materials, to be used across disciplines.

  The Executive also issued new guidance for child protection committees (CPCs) in January 2005, which makes clear that CPCs are responsible for promoting, commissioning and assuring the quality and delivery of inter-agency training.

  The Joint Inspection Services for Children Unit undertook in 2005 pilot inspections of services for protecting children in two authorities, which included their child protection training activity. These have been published and are available at http://www.hmie.gov.uk/services/default.asp. Joint inspections of child protection services in all 32 local authority areas are to be concluded by 2008.

Communities

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be allocated to (a) Renfrewshire and (b) Inverclyde through the Community Voices Programme in (i) 2005-06 and (ii) 2006-07.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The funding allocated to Renfrewshire and Inverclyde through the Community Voices programme in 2005-06 and 2006-07 is as follows:

  

 
 2005-06
 2006-07


 Renfrewshire
£60,000
£122,000


 Inverclyde
£60,000
£122,000

Communities

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to modify the Community Voices Programme.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The Community Voices Programme has been in existence for less than a year. The first round of monitoring information on the programme will be available in summer 2006. We are always willing to consider the lessons learned from practice and to see how we can improve the programme.

Communities

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent representations have been made anent the (a) funding, (b) local administration and (c) accessibility of the Community Voices Programme.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  No recent representations have been received about the funding, local administration or accessibility of the Community Voices Programme.

Concessionary Travel

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made with regard to extending the nationwide concessionary travel scheme to identified carers of people who qualify for the scheme.

Tavish Scott: The Scotland-wide Free Bus Scheme for Older and Disabled People will provide free travel for companions where assistance is required to travel. The eligibility criteria for companions will be set out in the draft order for The National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Older and Disabled People (Eligible Persons and Eligible Services)(Scotland) Order 2006.

Early Years

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of early intervention programmes for children under three.

Robert Brown: The Scottish Executive carries out a regular programme of monitoring for early intervention programmes for children under three. Though several extensive mapping reports have been undertaken, no formal evaluation of Sure Start Scotland has yet taken place; we are currently seeking to learn transferable lessons from the evaluation of Sure Start in England in order to inform any potential evaluation process in Scotland. The final report of the independent evaluation of Phase One of the National Demonstration Project, Starting Well, was published in April 2005, and an independent evaluation of Phase Two is planned. Evaluation of Working for Families (which while not strictly an early intervention programme incorporates significant support for children under three) is currently being carried out independently by the Employment Research Initiative at Napier University.

Early Years

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22396 by Robert Brown on 27 January 2006, whether it will publish an update on the range of early intervention programmes which it keeps under review in relation to children under three.

Robert Brown: The Scottish Executive is not currently planning to issue an update on the range of early intervention programmes for children under three. However, we are actively engaged with a wide range of stakeholders in these areas and will ensure all key stakeholders are updated on progress.

Early Years

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will establish an independent working group to monitor and evaluate early intervention programmes for children under three.

Robert Brown: The Scottish Executive has no current plans to establish an independent working group to monitor and evaluate early intervention programmes for children under three.

Early Years

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many early intervention programmes it operates for children under three and whether it will list such programmes.

Robert Brown: The Scottish Executive operates a range of early intervention programmes for children under three, including Sure Start Scotland, Starting Well, the National Demonstration Project for Child and Family Health in Scotland, and over 100 Working for Families projects (which though not strictly an early intervention programme, incorporates significant support for children under three).

Early Years

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated to early intervention programmes for children under three in each year since 1999, broken down by programme.

Robert Brown: Funding for early intervention programmes for children under three, broken down by programme, is as follows:

  Sure Start Scotland

  

 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06


£9 million
£14 million
£19 million
£19 million
£23.1 million
£35 million
£52.9 million



  Starting Well

  

 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
Phase 1-2 Transition(2003-04)
 2004-05
 2005-06


£1 million
£1 million
£1 million
£1.7 million
£0.8 million
£0.8 million



  Working for Families

  

2003-04 (Piloting)
2004-05
2005-06


£0.57 million
£10 million
£10 million



  Note: Working for Families, while not strictly an early intervention programme, incorporates significant support for children under three; figures relate to the overall programme.

Early Years

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the professionals whom it consulted prior to the introduction of early intervention programmes for children under three, broken down by programme.

Robert Brown: In the development of early intervention programmes for children under three such as Sure Start Scotland and the national demonstration project Starting Well, as well as Working for Families which incorporates significant support for children under three, the Executive consulted a wide range of relevant professionals across several sectors.

  In the case of Sure Start, these included social work, health and voluntary sector professionals; in regard to Starting Well, a wide range of health and related sector professionals, as well as the voluntary sector, and in relation to Working for Families, professionals from the education, child care, employability and poverty, development and regeneration sectors were consulted.

Early Years

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which early intervention programme for children under three has been evaluated as being the (a) most and (b) least successful.

Robert Brown: The objectives of early intervention programmes for children under three, such as Sure Start Scotland, the national demonstration project Starting Well and Working for Families (which while not strictly an early intervention programme incorporates significant support for children under three) differ significantly and it is therefore not possible to compare degrees of success across programmes.

Education

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many school pupils passed history at (a) standard grade, (b) higher grade and (c) advanced higher grade in each year since 1999.

Peter Peacock: A table detailing the awards gained by school pupils in history at Standard Grade, and the number of passes gained at Intermediate 1, Intermediate 2, CSYS, Higher and Advanced Higher in each year since 1999 has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 38957).

Education

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many history teachers were employed in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area and expressed also as a ratio of teachers to pupils in each local authority area.

Peter Peacock: The available information on how many history teachers have been employed and total secondary pupils broken down by local authority area is provided in the following table. A meaningful pupil: teacher ratio cannot be calculated as there is no information available on the time individual teachers teach history or the number of pupils taking history. There is no evidence to suggest that there are insufficient numbers of history teachers to deliver the subject.

  

 Local Authority
 History Teachers
 Total Secondary Pupils


Teaching as MainSubject
Teaching as Main orOther Subject
 


 20031
 2004
 2003
 2004
 2003
 2004


 Aberdeen City
 24
 24
 35
 35
 10,552
 10,457


 Aberdeenshire
 37
 40
 44
 53
 15,670
 15,881


 Angus
 22
 25
 30
 25
 7,104
 7,082


 Argyll and Bute
 18
 16
 20
 21
 5,739
 5,853


 Clackmannanshire
 13
 13
 14
 15
 2,991
 3,074


 Dumfries and Galloway
 32
 34
 49
 53
 9,564
 9,585


 Dundee City
 24
 28
 28
 37
 8,585
 8,501


 East Ayrshire
 22
 25
 28
 33
 8,181
 8,255


 East Dunbartonshire
 18
 19
 21
 24
 8,991
 8,690


 East Lothian
 6
 5
 8
 7
 5,640
 5,777


 East Renfrewshire
 19
 17
 23
 21
 7,591
 7,625


 Edinburgh City
 61
 68
 69
 82
 20,220
 20,140


 Eilean Siar
 3
 6
 8
 14
 1,952
 1,921


 Falkirk
 27
 25
 36
 32
 8,933
 9,147


 Fife
 55
 57
 78
 80
 22,701
 22,424


 Glasgow City
 57
 65
 77
 94
 29,318
 28,914


 Highland
 46
 54
 59
 67
 14,807
 14,928


 Inverclyde
 20
 18
 21
 19
 5,640
 5,571


 Midlothian
 17
 18
 24
 22
 5,647
 5,550


 Moray
 14
 17
 22
 26
 5,949
 6,022


 North Ayrshire
 26
 26
 33
 38
 9,276
 9,205


 North Lanarkshire
 59
 57
 72
 72
 22,474
 22,363


 Orkney Islands
 5
 4
 7
 7
 1,441
 1,427


 Perth and Kinross
 10
 18
 19
 19
 7,831
 7,919


 Renfrewshire
 24
 27
 28
 40
 11,791
 11,657


 Scottish Borders
 22
 21
 25
 25
 6,928
 6,991


 Shetland Islands
 8
 7
 12
 13
 1,669
 1,668


 South Ayrshire
 19
 16
 31
 21
 7,495
 7,384


 South Lanarkshire
 28
 32
 31
 47
 19,956
 20,018


 Stirling
 21
 24
 28
 31
 5,918
 6,043


 West Dunbartonshire
 20
 18
 20
 26
 6,467
 6,397


 West Lothian
 19
 15
 19
 15
 10,818
 10,842


 Grant Maintained
 2
 2
 2
 2
 588
 589


 Scotland
 807
 841
 1,020
 1,112
 318,427
 317,900



  Note: 1. Using 2004 data we were able to estimate main subject taught for a number of teachers who reported "other" as their main subject in 2003 but then reported a main subject in 2004. Using this method, the estimate of extra history teachers across all authorities was 11 full-time equivalent, which explains the discrepancy between the Scotland total, the sum of its parts and previously published figures.

Education

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering any proposals to remove the history syllabus from the existing S1 and S2 structure and, if so, whether it will publish such proposals.

Peter Peacock: As I have made clear on a number of occasions, I consider history to be a subject that has a huge contribution to make to the purposes of education. There are no plans to remove history from the curriculum.

  A report on progress made and views to date of the programme board taking forward A Curriculum for Excellence will be published in the spring. This report will be designed to promote further and deeper discussion on the principles for determining the future shape of the curriculum as a whole, including history.

Education

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions the Minister for Education and Young People met relevant officials to discuss proposals to remove history as a "time-tabled slot" in schools and on what dates such meetings occurred.

Peter Peacock: I have not met with officials to discuss proposals to remove history as a ‘time-tabled slot’ in schools as there never have been any such proposals.

Education

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the teaching of history in schools by properly trained and qualified teachers only.

Peter Peacock: All teachers are required to be registered with the General Teaching Council for Scotland. Teachers of all subjects should have the appropriate professional skills and knowledge to carry out their duties.

Education

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to extend the teaching of history in schools to levels in line with European averages.

Peter Peacock: The curriculum in Scotland is based on guidance, not statute. The Scottish Executive has no plans to prescribe time allocations for the teaching of history in schools to levels in line with European averages.

Education

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it agrees that the teaching of history as a distinct school syllabus reflects each of the capacities for "successful learners", "responsible citizens" and "effective contributors" laid out in the Executive’s proposed Curriculum for Excellence.

Peter Peacock: The teaching and learning of history in school is well placed to help enable our young people to develop as successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors.

  The curriculum in Scotland is not based on statutory prescription. It is for schools, in the light of the curriculum framework within which they operate, to determine how best they organise the syllabus for all subjects, including history, in schools.

Education

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Brix briefing notes it holds in respect of removing history as a distinct subject from the school curriculum and whether it will publish these.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive do not hold any Brix briefing notes concerning the removal of history from the curriculum.

Education

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has carried out since 1999 which specifically examines the value and contribution of history as part of the school curriculum.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive has not carried out any research since 1999 which specifically examines the value and contribution of history as part of the school curriculum.

  We have, in relation to the current Curriculum Review, commissioned a review of research literature about learning and teaching in the social subjects. The results of this research are available on the Curriculum for Excellence website at: http://www.acurriculumforexcellencescotland.gov.uk/about/research.asp.

Education

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to commission research in the next 12 months to specifically examine the value and contribution of history as part of the school curriculum.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive has no plans over the next 12 months to commission research to examine the value and contribution of history as part of the school curriculum.

Education

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what comparative European studies it has undertaken to examine the value and contribution of history as part of the school curriculum.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive has not undertaken any comparative European studies to examine the value and contribution of history as part of the school curriculum.

Education

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from the Scottish Qualifications Authority in respect of the teaching of history in schools and possible proposals to end the teaching of history as a distinct subject.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive has not received any representations from the Scottish Qualifications Authority in respect of the teaching of history in schools. There are no proposals to end the teaching of history as a distinct subject.

Education

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22829 by Peter Peacock on 21 February 2006, what proportion of the additional funding of £18 million in 2006 and £44 million in 2007 provided to local authorities to support the recruitment of additional teachers will be specifically allocated for the recruitment of PE teachers.

Peter Peacock: Funding provided to local authorities (LAs) will not be specifically allocated to the recruitment of PE teachers, or to any other specific subject. LAs will be able to use the allocated funds to deliver the growing emphasis in PE in primary schools, as well as reductions in class size and the general increase in teacher numbers we are committed to in 2007.

Education

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22829 by Peter Peacock on 21 February 2006, whether the additional funding of £18 million in 2006 and £44 million in 2007 provided to local authorities to support the recruitment of additional teachers will be ring-fenced for that purpose.

Peter Peacock: Before funding is released, local authorities will need to commit to employing teacher numbers which will make their contribution towards our national commitment of 53,000 in 2007.

Education

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it provides to local authorities in respect of the use of independent sports coaches in schools.

Peter Peacock: None, as it is ultimately for authorities and schools to decide on the precise way in which to teach subjects and to deliver the curriculum in a way that best meets the needs of their pupils.

Environment

Frances Curran (West of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what examples of international best practice in environmental justice it has (a) identified and (b) implemented to protect and enhance Scotland’s environment, in line with paragraph 13b of International Strategy.

Ross Finnie: On 14 December 2005, we published our Review of Progress on Environmental Justice. This sets out the actions we have taken to make progress on environmental justice in Scotland. We have sought to take account of best international practice. For example, research which we are completing on providing accessible environmental information and advice to the public has considered examples of current practice in Australia, Canada, Denmark and USA. Our work on environmental regulation has also considered arrangements overseas. It is important to note that overseas examples can normally provide only a guide to new thinking and that differences in economic, social and legislative circumstances mean that it is rarely possible to copy overseas initiatives exactly.

Health

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive when job evaluations will be completed in respect of Agenda for Change.

Mr Andy Kerr: Job evaluation in NHSScotland is carried out in partnership with trades unions and professional organisations, and significant progress has been made. Over 85% of posts which have been submitted to matching panels have been matched against national profiles. Health boards are also making progress with local evaluations.

  A plan for 2006, which health boards are committed to delivering, has been drawn up and agreed in partnership. Based on the plan all staff, either by way of job matching or local evaluation, will be paid on Agenda for Change pay bands by October 2006.

Health

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how long it takes on average for its Health Department to carry out quality assurance checks and to ratify evaluations conducted under Agenda for Change.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Job Evaluation Monitoring Group (JEMG) operates in partnership between employers and trade unions/professional organisations to ensure that the outcomes of job matching and local evaluation are consistent and accurate across NHSScotland. All outcomes must pass through this monitoring process before staff can be notified and assimilated to the new Agenda for Change paybands.

  Monitoring requests from health boards would normally be turned around by JEMG within two weeks of the date of receipt. Requests must be of a sufficient standard and contain the necessary information to allow the process to be undertaken satisfactorily.

Planning

Murray Tosh (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21906 by Malcolm Chisholm on 24 January 2006, whether it has obtained, or is seeking, assurances from HM Treasury that the proceeds of the proposed planning gain supplement generated by planning consents granted in Scotland will be returned to Scotland as additional resources to the assigned Scottish budget.

Malcolm Chisholm: The actual mechanisms for re-distributing the revenue raised by planning gain supplement have still to be developed between HM Treasury and the Executive. They will take account of the recent consultation exercise. The consultation paper states that "PGS revenues will be dedicated to financing additional investment in the local and strategic infrastructure necessary to support growth" and that "The Government anticipates that an overwhelming majority of PGS funds will be recycled within the region from which they derived". It is our objective that Scotland’s share of the revenues raised is fair and transparent.

Public Private Partnerships

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have modernised their school estates using public private partnerships in each of the last five years and how many schools each authority has rebuilt or refurbished.

Peter Peacock: Ten local authorities entered into school public private partnership (PPP) projects following Scottish Office offers of financial support in 1998. The number of schools involved is set out in the table. Work on the schools was completed over the period 2000 to 2005.

  Twenty nine local authorities are currently taking forward school PPP projects following Executive offers of financial support made in 2002 and 2003. These projects are at different stages of procurement and construction, and building work is expected to span the rest of this decade. A few schools have been completed under this programme, with the bulk expected to come on stream in the years 2006 to 2009.

  School PPP Projects Offered Scottish Office Financial Support in 1998

  

 Local Authority
 Number of New and Refurbished Schools


 Aberdeenshire
 3


 East Renfrewshire
 2


 Edinburgh
 17


 Falkirk
 5


 Fife
 3


 Glasgow
 30


 Highland
 4


 Midlothian
 3


 Stirling
 1


 West Lothian
 6

Public Private Partnerships

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the delay in progressing Dumfries and Galloway Council's PPP application for the improvement of its schools estate.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive made an offer of financial support in June 2002 to Dumfries and Galloway Council for a schools PPP project. The council took a decision in May 2005 to rescope their project, following which the Executive confirmed that its offer of financial support remained in place. I understand that the council advertised their rescoped project in January in order to establish market interest.

Regional Selective Assistance

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria are for refusing companies grants under the regional selective assistance scheme, if jobs are likely to be created regardless of any such grant.

Allan Wilson: The purpose of regional selective assistance (RSA) is to support viable projects that will strengthen the employment base but might not, without support, take place within the Assisted Areas of Scotland, those areas designated for regional aid under European Community law.

  All companies when applying for RSA have to meet the scheme criteria before grant is offered. Criteria include viability, economic efficiency and the demonstration of the need for grant. Need for assistance can be demonstrated in a number of ways including filling a funding gap, return on investment, risk reduction and choice of location.

  RSA will not be offered if we believe a project would proceed in an Assisted Area regardless of our involvement.

Scottish Executive Accommodation

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it paid in rent in 2004-05 for properties in (a) total, (b) each region of Scotland, (c) Edinburgh and (d) Glasgow, broken down by department and agency.

Mr Tom McCabe: In 2004-05, the total paid in rent by the Scottish Executive was £12,148,993.46. This figure includes any VAT levied on rental payment as under Government Accounting rules, any VAT levied on rent is irrecoverable. This figure is broken down by department and agency for each local authority area below.

  The Scottish Executive also has a number of properties where it makes "licence payments". These "licence payments" are all encompassing payments inclusive of rent, rates, VAT, utilities, service and facilities charges. No allocation is made by the provider to individual items.

  In 2004-05, the total licence payments made by the Scottish Executive was £242,490.41. These costs are shown separately on individual tables broken down by local authority area, department and agency.

  In addition, the Scottish Executive occupies space in buildings controlled by other UK Government Departments for which it pays a facility charge to the controlling department. The facilities charge comprises all property costs except for rates and utilities. No specific allocation to rent is possible therefore this figure is reported separately.

  In 2004-05 the total facilities charges paid by the Scottish Executive was £723,167.88. These costs are again shown separately on individual tables by local authority area broken down by department and agencies. Where no local authority area is shown no rental is payable in respect of property within this local authority area.

  Rent by Local Authority Area

  

Local Authority
Department/Agency
Payment


 Aberdeen City Council
 Total Payments
£383,074.26


 
 Scottish Court Service
£45,000


 
 Justice Department
£125,725


 
 Fisheries Research Service
£90,000


 
 Communities Scotland
£122,349.26


 Aberdeenshire Council
 Total Payments
£7,793


 
 Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency
£7,793


 Angus Council
 Total Payments
£12,635


 
 Fisheries Research Service
£7,335


 
 Historic Scotland
£5,300


 Argyll and Bute Council
 Total Payments
£29,100


 
 Historic Scotland
£29,100


 City of Edinburgh Council
 Total Payments
£5,788,849.65


 
 SEERAD
£3,574.35


 
 Scottish Court Service
£419,779


 
 Scottish Prison Service
£958,969.20


 
 Registers of Scotland
£274,645


 
 Justice Department
£631,323.49


 
 Historic Scotland
£961,386.48


 
 General Register Office for Scotland
£523,896


 
 Core Estate
£1,721,579.20


 
 Communities Scotland
£293,696.93


 Comhairle NAN Eilean Siar
 Total Payments
£1,440


 
 Historic Scotland
£1,440


 Dumfries and Galloway Council
 Total Payments
£11,315


 
 Historic Scotland
£11,315


 Dundee City Council
 Total Payments
£219,024.52


 
 Communities Scotland
£98,582.52


 
 Charities Regulator
£49,500


 
 Scottish Court Service
£26,914


 
 HM Inspectorate of Education
£21,398


 East Ayrshire Council
 Total Payments
£3,500


 
 Historic Scotland
£3,500


 East Lothian Council
 Total Payments
£5,200


 
 Scottish Court Service
£5,200


 Falkirk Council
 Total Payments
£220,704.89


 
 Scottish Court Service
£178,717.50


 
 Historic Scotland
£10,350


 
 Core Estate
£31,637.39


 Fife Council
 Total Payments
£11,115


 
 Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency
£2,600


 
 Historic Scotland
£8,515


 Glasgow City Council
 Total Payments
£3,284,786.79


 
 ETLLD
£9,390.13


 
 Registers of Scotland
£658,700


 
 Justice Department
£676,275


 
 Core Estate
£1,690,909.65


 
 Communities Scotland
£249,512.01


 Highland Council
 Total Payments
£92,453.24


 
 Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency
£17,962


 
 Scottish Court Service
£9,450


 
 Historic Scotland
£4,160


 
 Fisheries Research Service
£2,950


 
 Core Estate
£3,000


 
 Communities Scotland
£54,931.24


 Midlothian Council
 Total Payments
£5,103.03


 
 Scottish Agricultural Science Agency
£5,103.03


 Moray Council
 Total Payments
£48,457.06


 
 Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency
£4,542


 
 Scottish Court Service
£2,868


 
 Historic Scotland
£7,325


 
 Core Estate
£33,722.06


 Orkney Islands Council
 Total Payments
£21,104


 
 Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency
£3,900


 
 Historic Scotland
£17,204


 Perth and Kinross Council
 Total Payments
£450,233


 
 Core Estate
£446,198


 
 Historic Scotland
£4,035


 Renfrewshire Council
 Total Payments
£669,750


 
 Justice Department
£434,750


 
 Communities Scotland
£235,000


 Scottish Borders Council
 Total Payments
£435,626


 
 Scottish Public Pensions Agency
£430,514


 
 Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency
£4,712


 
 Scottish Court Service
£400


 Shetland Islands Council
 Total Payments
£18,995


 
 Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency
£17,045


 
 Fisheries Research Service
£1,950


 South Ayrshire Council
 Total Payments
£53,712.79


 
 Communities Scotland`
£53,712.79


 South Lanarkshire Council
 Total Payments
£122,900.23


 
 Communities Scotland
£114,562.50


 
 Justice Department
£8,337.73


 Stirling Council
 Total Payments
£34,487


 
 ETLLD
£34,487


 West Dunbartonshire Council
 Total Payments
£28,184


 
 HM Inspectorate of Education
£28,184


 West Lothian Council
 Total Payments
£212,080


 
 Scottish Court Service
£84,583


 
 Scottish Building Standards Agency
£13,589


 
 HM Inspectorate of Education
£113,908



  Licence Payments

  

Local Authority
Department/Agency
Payment


 Aberdeen City Council
 Total Payments
£22,969


 
 Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency
£22,969


 City of Edinburgh Council
 Total Payments
£5,746.80


 
 Scottish Agricultural Science Agency
£5,746.90


 Dundee City Council
 Total Payments
£5,570


 
 Scottish Court Service
£5,570


 Glasgow City Council
 Total Payments
£93,298.86


 
 Communities Scotland
£15,385.42


 
 Justice Department
£77,913.44


 West Lothian Council
 Total Payments
£114,905.75


 
 Scottish Prison Service
£43,815.75


 
 HM Inspectorate of Education
£71,090



  Facilities Charges

  

Local Authority
Department/Agency
Payment


 Aberdeen City Council
 Total Payments
£80,315.39


 
 Core Estate
£80,315.39


 Aberdeenshire Council
 Total Payments
£13,852


 
 Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency
£13,852


 Argyll and Bute Council
 Total Payments
£1,985


 
 Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency
£1,985


 City of Edinburgh Council
 Total Payments
£46,607


 
 Core Estate
£46,607


 Dumfries and Galloway Council
 Total Payments
£120,662.58


 
 Core Estate
£120,662.58


 Local Authority
 Department/Agency
 Payment


 
 
 


 Dundee City Council
 Total Payments
£149,008.95


 
 Core Estate
£149,008.95


 Shetland Islands Council
 Total Payments
£41,425.54


 
 Core Estate
£41,425.54


 South Ayrshire Council
 Total Payments
£123,039


 
 Core Estate
£109,870


 
 Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency
£13,169


 Stirling Council
 Total Payments
£146,272.42


 
 Core Estate
£146,272.42

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it paid in non-domestic rates to each local authority in 2004-05 in respect of its core functions, broken down by department and agency.

Mr Tom McCabe: In 2004-05 the amount of non-domestic rates paid by the Scottish Executive to each local authority in respect of its core functions, broken down by Department and agency is as set out below. Where no local authority area is mentioned no payments were made to that authority in 2004-05.

  

Local Authority
Department/Agency
Payment


 Aberdeen City Council
 Total Payments
£540,503.19


 
 Scottish Courts Service
£78,271


 
 Scottish Prison Service
£61,375


 
 Justice Department
£37,316


 
 Fisheries Research Service
£311,800


 
 Core Estate
£20,472.19


 
 Communities Scotland
£31,269


 Aberdeenshire Council
 Total Payments
£240,328.42


 
 Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency
£5,918


 
 Scottish Courts Service
£64,989


 
 Scottish Prison Service
£113,912


 
 Historic Scotland
£1,599.42


 
 Core Estate
£54,010


 Angus Council
 Total Payments
£139,930.85


 
 Scottish Courts Service
£46,056


 
 Scottish Prison Service
£49,443.70


 
 Historic Scotland
£413.15


 
 Fisheries Research Service
£44,000


 Argyll and Bute Council
 Total Payments
£84,069,66


 
 Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency
£4,255.64


 
 Scottish Courts Service
£41.142


 
 Historic Scotland
£9,413.40


 
 Core Estate
£29,258.62


 City of Edinburgh Council
 Total Payments
£7,950,086.14


 
 SEERAD
£3,721


 
 Scottish Court Service
£1,834,376


 
 Scottish Prison Service
£663,095.50


 
 Scottish Agricultural Science Agency
£143,013.98


 
 Registers of Scotland
£563,668


 
 National Archives of Scotland
£464,486


 
 Justice Department
£345,301


 
 Historic Scotland
£394,390.74


 
 General Register Office for Scotland
£312,271


 
 Core Estate
£2,877,280.66


 
 Communities Scotland
£348,482.26


 Clackmannanshire Council
 Total Payments
£260,574


 
 Scottish Prison Service
£245,500


 
 Scottish Courts Service
£15,074


 Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar
 Total Payments
£42,795


 
 Scottish Courts Service
£25,959


 
 Core Estate
£16,836


 Dumfries and Galloway Council
 Total Payments
£155,399.99


 
 Scottish Prison Service
£81,506


 
 Historic Scotland
£2,844.19


 
 Core Estate
£22,741.80


 Dundee City Council
 Total Payments
£235,332.62


 
 Scottish Court Service
£110,260


 
 Charities Regulator
£50,406


 
 HM Inspector of Education
£6,270


 
 Core Estate
£30,589.62


 
 Communities Scotland
£37,807


 East Ayrshire Council
 Total Payments
£286,588.04


 
 Scottish Prison Service
£196,400


 
 Scottish Court Service
£88,380


 
 Historic Scotland
£1,808.04


 East Dunbartonshire Council
 Total Payments
£87,806.80


 
 Scottish Prison Service
£87,806.80


 East Lothian Council
 Total Payments
£118,878.86


 
 Justice Department
£108,020


 
 Scottish Court Service
£9,638


 
 Historic Scotland
£1,220.86


 Falkirk Council
 Total Payments
£514,311.49


 
 Scottish Court Service
£180,197


 
 Scottish Prison Service
£297,055


 
 Historic Scotland
£3,569.72


 
 Core Estate
£33,489.77


 Fife Council
 Total Payments
£369,161.56


 
 Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency
£440


 
 Scottish Court Service
£140,181


 
 Justice Department
£225,249


 
 Historic Scotland
£3,291.56


 Glasgow City Council
 Total Payments
£369,161.56


 
 Scottish Court Service
£1,271,690


 
 Scottish Prison Service
£317,403


 
 Registers of Scotland
£199.837


 
 Justice Department
£226,842


 
 Core Estate
£641,596.74


 
 Communities Scotland
£90,880.48


 Highland Council
 Total Payments
£393,356.07


 
 Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency
£14,049


 
 Scottish Court Service
£127,972


 
 Scottish Prison Service
£55,974


 
 Historic Scotland
£92,024.30


 
 Fisheries Research Service
£14,750


 
 Core Estate
£68,946.77


 
 Communities Scotland
£19,640


 Inverclyde Council
 Total Payments
£179,249.77


 
 Scottish Prison Service
£132,570


 
 Scottish Court Service
£46,645


 
 Historic Scotland
£34.77


 Midlothian Council
 Total Payments
£1,824.43


 
 Scottish Agricultural Science Agency
£1,824.43


 Moray Council
 Total Payments
£34,620.67


 
 Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency
£2,079


 
 Scottish Court Service
£17,637


 
 Historic Scotland
£9,921.04


 
 Core Estate
£4,983.63


 North Lanarkshire Council
 Total Payments
£469,396


 
 Scottish Prison Service
£390,836


 
 Scottish Court Service
£78,560


 Orkney Islands Council
 Total Payments
£38,777.17


 
 Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency
£1,414


 
 Scottish Court Service
£10,248


 
 Historic Scotland
£8,414.34


 
 Core Estate
£18,700.83


 Perth and Kinross Council
 Total Payments
£440,107.92


 
 Scottish Court Service
£36,825


 
 Scottish Prison Service
£252,374


 
 Historic Scotland
£3,854.42


 
 Core Estate
£147,054.05


 Renfrewshire Council
 Total Payments
£541,082


 
 Scottish Court Service
£362,358


 
 Justice Department
£108,511


 
 Communities Scotland
£70,213


 Scottish Borders Council
 Total Payments
£145,621.59


 
 Scottish Public Pensions Agency
£91,751


 
 Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency
£1,020


 
 Scottish Court Service
£32,880


 
 Historic Scotland
£4,209.49


 
 Core Estate
£15,761.10


 Shetland Islands Council
 Total Payments
£38,940.97


 
 Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency
£4,636


 
 Scottish Court Service
£10,126


 
 Historic Scotland
£5,568.69


 
 Fisheries Research Service
£420


 
 Core Estate
£18,190.28


 South Ayrshire Council
 Total Payments
£167,622.50


 
 Scottish Court Service
£110,966


 
 Communities Scotland
£15,957.50


 
 Core Estate
£36,889


 
 Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency
£3,810


 South Lanarkshire Council
 Total Payments
£278,961.65


 
 Scottish Court Service
£206,220


 
 Core Estate
£27,741.05


 
 Communities Scotland
£45,000.15


 Stirling Council
 Total Payments
£263,490.88


 
 ETLLD
£11,224


 
 Scottish Court Service
£65,303


 
 Scottish Prison Service
£103,110


 
 Historic Scotland
£58,138.50


 
 Core Estate
£25,723.38


 West Dunbartonshire Council
 Total Payments
£55,105


 
 Scottish Court Service
£29,267


 
 HM Inspectorate of Education
£25,838


 West Lothian Council
 Total Payments
£251,790.14


 
 Scottish Court Service
£68,699


 
 Scottish Prison Service
£69,231


 
 Scottish Building Standards Agency
£8,520


 
 HM Inspectorate of Education
£103,648


 
 Historic Scotland
£1,692.14

Scottish Executive Staff

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil service jobs have been relocated since 1999, broken down by (a) place relocated to and (b) cost of relocation.

George Lyon: The numbers of public sector posts located or relocated under the relocation policy, and the known costs to date are set out in the relocation website, at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/Relocation .

Scottish Executive Staff

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of utilities was per head of its staff in each year from 2003 to 2005 and what the cost is estimated to be in (a) 2006, (b) 2007 and (c) 2008.

Mr Tom McCabe: The costs for utilities per head of staff incurred by the Scottish Executive between 2003 to 2005 are as follows:

  

 Financial Year
£/Per Capita


 2002-03
 238.25


 2003-04
 233.27


 2004-05
 280.25



  The Executive’s contracts for utilities are to be renewed this year (2006); therefore, the rates are yet to be agreed. These rates will be dependent upon prevailing market circumstances, particularly the gas and electricity wholesale markets. Accordingly, it is not possible to provide the estimates requested at this time.

Social Work

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many social work assistants there have been in each local authority area in each year since 1999.

Robert Brown: The number of social work assistants working in each local authority is available in the Staff Of Scottish Local Authority Social Work Services publications. Between 1999 and 2004 (the latest year for which information is available) the number of social work assistants were as follows:

  

 Year
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004


 SW Assistants (Number)
 247
 912
 1,039
 1,226
 1,482
 2,162


SW Assistants (Whole-Time Equivalent)
 225
 799
 889
 1,049
 1,303
 1,917



  As a result of changes in the classifications used on census forms, figures are not strictly comparable across years. Fuller information is available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/16135/7725.

Social Work

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding was allocated to social work departments to provide allowances for 16 to 18-year-olds in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.

Robert Brown: Prior to 1 April 2004, 16 to 18-year-old care leavers received benefits from the Department of Work and Pensions. In addition, local authorities had the power, through sections 29 and 30 of The Children (Scotland) Act 1995, to provide discretionary allowances on an ad-hoc basis. The amounts of these allowances varied between local authorities.

  Since the Supporting Young People Leaving Care in Scotland Regulations came into force on 1 April 2004, local authorities have received the following funding to help plan and prepare for, and implement, the new duties.

  

 
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06


 Aberdeen City
 32,739
 130,957
 163,696


 Aberdeenshire
 21,706
 86,826
 108,532


 Angus
 15,362
 61,449
 76,811


 Argyll and Bute
 11,654
 46,616
 58,270


 Clackmannanshire
 10,245
 40,982
 51,227


 Dumfries and Galloway
 20,273
 81,093
 101,366


 Dundee City
 41,268
 165,070
 206,338


 East Ayrshire
 26,356
 105,423
 131,779


 East Dunbartonshire
 10,471
 41,884
 52,355


 East Lothian
 13,685
 54,738
 68,423


 East Renfrewshire
 9,624
 38,496
 48,120


 Edinburgh
 81,563
 326,252
 407,815


 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
 2,553
 10,211
 12,764


 Falkirk
 26,783
 107,134
 133,917


 Fife
 64,972
 259,889
 324,861


 Glasgow
 210,204
 840,816
 1,051,020


 Highland
 31,416
 125,664
 157,080


 Inverclyde
 20,943
 83,771
 104,713


 Midlothian
 14,422
 57,690
 72,112


 Moray
 10,597
 42,389
 52,986


 North Ayrshire
 33,534
 134,134
 167,668


 North Lanarkshire
 73,210
 292,841
 366,051


 Orkney
 1,660
 6,640
 8,300


 Perth and Kinross
 16,597
 66,388
 82,985


 Renfrewshire
 38,175
 152,700
 190,875


 Scottish Borders
 12,328
 49,312
 61,640


 Shetland
 2,192
 8,766
 10,958


 South Ayrshire
 17,009
 68,038
 85,047


 South Lanarkshire
 55,949
 223,797
 279,746


 Stirling
 13,210
 52,839
 66,049


 West Dunbartonshire
 27,701
 110,802
 138,503


 West Lothian
 31,599
 126,394
 157,993


 Total
 1,000,000
 4,000,000
 5,000,000



  From 1 April 2006 this funding will form part of the Grant Aided Expenditure allocation to local authorities.

Social Work

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the First Minister’s reported comments regarding the "stupidity or a lack of caring or both" of social service professionals in Glasgow in relation to the case of an 11-year-old Glasgow girl admitted to hospital for heroin abuse will have on recruitment campaigns by local authority social service departments and the confidence of the social work and social service professions.

Robert Brown: The Scottish Executive is committed to developing and promoting the confidence of the social services workforce, as reflected in its response to Changing Lives , the report of the 21st Century Social Work Review. Local recruitment campaigns are a matter for employers, though the Executive has supported such efforts through its own recruitment and profile raising activity as part of the Care in Scotland campaign targeted on the social services sector.

Social Work

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many care beds are available to accommodate children removed from their homes for their own safety by social service departments and what the estimated shortfall is in respect of such beds and foster families.

Robert Brown: The information requested is not held centrally.

Social Work

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its foster care service budgets are currently underspent by £63 million and, if so, what action is being taken to address this underspend.

Robert Brown: No.

Voluntary Sector

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes are being made in light of its review of direct funding and the Strategic Funding Review in respect of funding of the voluntary sector.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) are working together to implement findings from the Strategic Review of Voluntary Sector Funding. The review has led to a wide-ranging programme of activity to support the sustainable growth of the voluntary sector in Scotland.

  This includes the development of an action plan with actions for each of the strategic partners. Specific changes that have been made towards ensuring stability in the relationship between funders and the voluntary sector include the development of three year funding packages, payments in advance, and reduced bureaucracy in our systems and processes through common application packs and the lead funder model. In addition a full cost recovery impact assessment is underway, which will make recommendations for a realistic and manageable way of moving towards full cost recovery implementation across the public and voluntary sectors.

  Further detail about the Action Plan can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Voluntary-Issues/15300/sfrap.

Young People

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what audit has been conducted to estimate the need for secure accommodation for young offenders.

Cathy Jamieson: The Secure Accommodation Advisory Group published their recommendations and audit of need in 2003. These can be found at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/justice/secureaccom.pdf.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/justice/secureaccomint.pdf.

  On the basis of this report and based on objective measurement criteria, there was decision that we extend the secure estate by 29 places.

Young People

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people from Scotland have been placed in secure accommodation in (a) England and (b) Wales in each of the last five years.

Cathy Jamieson: This information is not gathered centrally. Local authorities make decisions regarding the placement of young people. If it is the case that a child’s needs are best met by a placement outwith Scotland then we would expect local authorities to act on this.

Young People

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what supported accommodation is currently available for 16 to 18-year-olds who are not entitled to jobseekers allowance but who are living independently, broken down by local authority area.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what weekly payment is made to 16 to 18-year-olds who are living independently, are not in full-time education and not entitled to jobseekers allowance, broken down by local authority area.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged 16 to 18 were living independently having left foster care in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

Robert Brown: The information requested is not held centrally.